Mirian's Story Part II (2 of 4)

As we met with Bishop Despain, we were excited and knew this was what the Lord had in store for us. We informed our parents that we had decided to start the process of adoption. We could hardly contain our excitement and had to keep reminding ourselves that this could take a long time. We started out meeting with Brenda Brown who worked with LDS Family Services. She was so wonderful and helpful and supportive. After our visit with Brenda, we realized that there was A LOT of paperwork in order to be approved as potential adoptive parents. What a better place to start than at the beginning right??!!

We prayerfully and diligently worked on our paperwork. We wrote our "letter to the birthparent" and answered the questionnaires. We filled out paper after paper. Finally as we finished all our paperwork, we had a few final tasks in order to be approved. As part of the approval process, we were required to get physicals to submit with our paperwork. Russ met with Doctor Brandt and Emily met with Shannon Neer (Dr. Ryder's physicians assistant). Emily informed Shannon that there had been a history of Thyroid issues in her family. As Shannon checked Emily, she found a lump in her Thyroid and determined it would be necessary to test further. After further testing, it was determined that Emily had Thyroid Cancer. This of course would delay the adoption paperwork.

After discussing the cancer with Endocrinologist, Dr. Gary Treece in Yakima, Emily received on offer from Dr. Lyle Hunt in Paradise to do the surgery. Dr. Hunt was Emily's former Bishop and a good family friend. We felt more comfortable with someone who knew Emily for such a long time and was interested in her as a person and child of God and not just a patient, so we took Dr. Hunt up on his offer. Just after New Years, we flew down to California in preparation for the surgery.

On January 5, 2007, Emily successfully had her thyroid removed. After 3 days in the hospital, she was released and went back to her parents' home to recover for a week. Emily felt pretty good, considering she had just been through surgery. She couldn't hold her head up straight or turn her head from side to side, and she didn't have a lot of energy, but she was in good spirits.

After being pampered by Mom and Dad, Russ, and Jeff, we finally had to go back home to Yakima. As part of the cancer treatment, Emily couldn't take any thyroid hormones, until her body had been completely depleated of the hormones. At that point, she would need to undergo Radioactive Iodine Therapy. Slightly more than a month passed leading up to the Radioactive Iodine Therapy. It was very tough. Emily had no energy and just felt crummy. Work (Cascade Eye Center) was very loving and supportive of her. They let her come in and work whenever she felt like she could make it, but they knew she couldn't be there all day every day.

Finally, Emily's levels were low enough that she could undergo therapy. Emily had to swallow a little blue pill that was radioactive. Then she had to be quarantined for a whole week. Emily's mom came from California to help out. It was really hard for Emily to be quarantined. She was locked up in the basement, in a room that didn't have a ceiling or any windows. She couldn't go anywhere or do anything. She was miserable. The only entertainment she had for that week was a tv, dvd player, books, and magazines. She wasn't quite sure if it was day or night sometimes because she couldn't even see outside. The worst part was that she could hear her mom and Russ laughing and playing upstairs, while Emily was suffering away in the basement (can you tell she is bitter about this?)

After the week of quarantine, Dr. Treece finally got Emily started on Thyroid medicine and she has been feeling good ever since. She went back to work right away and nothing has been able to keep her down.